The Archbishop of Canterbury says Meghan Markle’s divorce is something the Church of England has “dealt with” in the same way it would with any other couple.

Speaking as he prepares to officiate at Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in May, the Most Reverend Justin Welby was asked whether her previous marriage was an issue.

“It’s not a problem,” he said. “The Church of England has clear rules with dealing with that and we’ve dealt with that.

“We went through that as anyone would who will officiate at a wedding where someone has been separated and a partner is still living.”

Image:The Most Reverend Justin Welby will be officiating at Harry and Meghan’s wedding

The Church of England agreed in 2002 that divorced people could remarry in church, with the discretion of the priest.

Ms Markle married American film producer Trevor Engelson in 2011. They filed for divorce in 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences”.

It was announced in February that the Archbishop, who has written a new book called Reimagining Britain – Foundations for Hope, would officiate as the couple take their marriage vows on ‪19 May.

It was also confirmed that the service will begin at midday at St George’s Chapel with the Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd David Conner, conducting the service.

Prince Harry and Ms Markle announced their engagement in November. A day later Kensington Palace confirmed that Meghan, who identifies as Protestant, would be baptised and confirmed ahead of her wedding day.

As the first mixed-race person to marry into the Royal Family, there has been lots of excitement about the potential impact Meghan could have on wider issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.

When asked what difference he thought she could make, the Archbishop said: “The wedding is going to be wonderful. I’m looking forward to it enormously.

“I think one of the places I started when I was writing (the book) was the excitement of living in a much more diverse country than the one I grew up in 45, 50 years ago, and what a gift that can be rather than a threat.